Dual-pull veterinary fetal extractor

ABSTRACT

A veterinary obstetric instrument for assisting the birth of fetal animals to avoid the necessity of caesarian operations. The construction of the device comprises a quick-release progressively locked telescoping body portion, a breeching plate and belt for attaching the device to an animal, a ground support member and a positioning handle, dual cables mounted on leverdriven ratchet reels rotatably mounted on a reel bracket, and chain or cable means for attaching the reel mounted cables to the head or body portion of the fetal animal.

United States Patent McMillan 1 Feb. 22, 1972 DUAL-PULL VETERINARY FETALEXTRACTOR [72] Inventor: Robert L. McMillan, 133 Winn Avenue,

Box 2189, Universal City, Tex. 78148 [22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 24,706

[52] US. Cl ..l28/353 [51] Int. Cl A6111 17/42, A61d 1/08 [58] FieldoiSearch ..l28/352, 353

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,945 11/1932 Ransy..'....128/352 2,522,508 9/1950 Frank ..128/352 2,791,219 5/1957 Bowie..l28/352 3,183,911 5/1965 Anglemyer ..128/353 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 260,572 6/1913 Germany ..128/352 581,090 7/1933 Germany..128/352 Primary ExaminerChanning L. Pace Attorney-Willard .l. Hodges,Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A veterinary obstetric instrument for assisting the birthof fetal animals to avoid the necessity of caesarian operations. Theconstruction of the device comprises a quick-release progressivelylocked telescoping body portion, a breeching plate and belt forattaching the device to an animal, a ground support member and apositioning handle, dual cables mounted on lever-driven ratchet reelsrotatably mounted on a reel bracket, and chain or cable means forattaching the reel mounted cables to the head or body portion of thefetal animal.

8 Claims, 6 Drawlng Figures msmmrmz [m2 1 3,643,664

iNVENTOR ROBERT L. McMILLAN ATTORNEY DUAL-PULL VETERINARY FETALEXTRACTOR The birthing of fetal animals has presented substantialproblems for cattlemen and veterinary doctors for many years. Thisproblem has been particularly acute in the beef cattle in dustry forhighly bred heifer cows birthing their first fetal calf. In the absenceof assistance, the cow and/or the calf are frequently lost. Poweredmechanical tensioning devices are prevalent in the industry to avoid thenecessity of caesarian operations. Single-pull ratchet-driven fetaldevices are well known to the art and have been utilized for severalyears.

I Difficulties encountered in the utilization of a single-pulltensioning device have led to the concept and design of the inventionconstituting the subject matter of this application.

One of the objects of this invention was to provide a dual source ofmechanical tension to enable the maneuvering of the fetal animal.Another object was to provide snap attached freely rotating butt platein order not to unduly restrict the movement of the animal. The thirdobject was to provide a quick-release, telescopingly adjustable bodyportion to give the veterinary complete control over the amount oftension applied to the fetal animal and to instantaneously release alltension if required.

The foregoing objects, among other considerations, led your inventor todesign the dual-pull veterinary fetal extractor constituting the subjectmatter of this invention.

The construction and use of the device of this invention is summarilydescribed as comprising a telescopingly adjustable body. Attached to theforward end of the body portion is a grooved retaining pin which issecured in a snap lock rotating engagement to a butt plate which issecured to the animal by means of a butt plate strap. Mounted on therear of the telescoping body portion are two reels on which are woundtensioning cables. These two reels are ratchet driven and normallyrestricted from rotation in one direction by a cog reel which is lockedin position by retaining palls. A construction of the individual reeldevices well known to the prior art are available on the commercialmarket, and are used for tensioning fence wire. The body portion andreel mounting frames are supported a few inches above ground level by aground support attached to the reel mounting frame and/or telescopingbody portion. At the extreme rear of the instrument is a positioninghandle which is preferably constructed of adequate width to permitgrasping with both hands. Immediately adjacent this maneuvering handleis the release knob which is mounted on a release shaft which projectsthrough the telescoping body portion and will contact and release thelocking engagement of the inner and outer shafts permitting aninstantaneous foreshortening of the telescoping body portion. Additionaladvantages and objects of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a study of the attaken substantially on line 2-2on a plane in the direction of the arrows disclosing in detail theconstruction of the components of the latching device utilized forsecuring and interlocking the outer and inner shaft of the telescopingbody.

FIG. 3 is a fragmented view of the forward end of the telescoping bodywith the butt plate detached from the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 1looking in the direction of the arrows disclosing in detail theconstruction of the butt plate catch.

FIG. 5 illustrates a chain-type device which may be used to secure thehook of the tensioning cable to the leg or other portion of the fetalanimal.

FIG. 6 is a snurelike noose particularly suited to securing thetensioning cable to the head of the fetal animal.

The device of thepreferred embodiment of this invention principallyutilizes aluminum in construction to reduce weight and avoid corrosion;however, other type materials or metals might well be utilized. Thecentral, telescoping body portion 11 of this device may be constructedof square tubular aluminum. In essence, all of the components of thedevice are mounted on or secured to the inner shaft 12 constructedinternally of the forward end of the inner shaft 12 is a spring latch13. The spring latch 13 was constructed with a V-spring 14 which wassecured to the inner shaft by a retaining pin 15. At the forward end ofthe V-spring 14 are constructed latch pins 16 which, in their normalspring-loaded position, project outward through latch holes 17 in thewall of inner shaft 12. Projecting through the entire length of theinner shaft 12 is a release shaft 19. Adjacent the V-spring l4 andsecured to the release shaft 19 is a U-shaped release clamp 20. When therelease shaft 19 is forced forward by striking the release knob 21,release clamp 20 depresses the V-spring l4 and withdraws the latch pins16 into the inner shaft 12. When the device is assembled, the outershaft 1222 is telescopingly mounted over the inner shaft 12. Atperiodically spaced intervals in the outer shaft 22 are latch pinretaining holes 23. When the inner l2 and outer 22 shafts aretelescopingly engaged, release knob 21 removes the U-shaped retainingclamp 20 from engagement with V-shaped spring I4 and the latch pins 16project outward and lockingly engage the latch pin retaining hole 23 inthe outer shaft 22. At the forward end of the outer shaft in elongationof the telescoping body 11 is mounted butt plate retaining pin 24, inits surface is a retaining groove 25. The butt plate 27 includes asocket 28 Rotatably receives butt plate retaining pin 24 and the twocomponents are retained in a snap lock ongagement by spring-loaded ballcatch 30 which engages retaining groove 25. The butt plate 27 isprovided with a butt plate strap 31 for securing the butt plateto ananimal. Secure ly mounted on the rear of inner shaft 12 are theremaining components of the device. Attached to the inner shaft I2 isratchet mounting frame 32. Rotatibly mounted on this frame is the leftcable reel 33 and the right cable reel 34. The entire structure issupported above ground level a few inches by means of ground supportmember 35. Integral with or attached to the ratchet mounting frame 32 issecurely attached a broad positioning handle 36 of adequate width topermit the grasping with two hands and adjacent this handle 36 isrelease knob 21.

As previously stated, the construction of the ratchetlike lever-drivenmeans for rotating the left 33 and right 34 cable reels and theirmechanical construction will be described only in summary in that thesedevices are well known to the art and widely used for stretching fencewire. The cable reels 26 are mounted for rotation on reel shafts 37which are secured to 1 the ratchet mounting frame 32. One flange of eachof reel is constructed with a series of teeth and will be referred to asa ratchet flange 38. In operation, this ratchet flange 38 is engaged androtated by a lever pall 39. The reels 26 are retained in the rotated ortension position by a spring-loaded stop pall 40. Associated with alever pall 39 is a small spring-loaded ratchet control lever 41 which isso positions the lever pall 39 as to place it'in or out of theengagement with ratchet flange 38. Secured to each reel 26 is a tensioncable 42. In the preferred embodiment, to each cable was secured a cablehook 43 for convenience of attaching the cable 42 to the noose 44 or legchain 45. A jack handle 46 is mounted for rotation concentric with acable reel 26 on reel shaft 37 to increase mechanical advantage andapply adequate rotating pressure to a lever palls 39. Lever pall 39 issecured to this jack handle 46 whereas stop pall 40 may be mounted onratchet mounting frame 32.

The foregoing is a reasonably accurate description of construction ofthe preferred embodiment of the device. In use, butt plate 27'is securedto the bearing animal by butt plate strap 3]. Butt plate retaining pin24 then may be placed in snap engagement with socket 28. As required bycircumstances. the noose 44 or leg chain 45 is secured to protrudingportion of the fetal animal and the cables 42 are attached as requiredby the particular situation. A tensioning of the cables 42 by operationof jack handles 46 by a veterinarian assisting in the birth of the fetalanimal may, be selective application of tension as required, facilitatethe birth of fetal animal and frequently save the life of fetal calfand/or the bearing animal under conditions when one or both might welldie in the absence of professional assistance or the more drasticprocedure of caesarian surgery.

Having described the construction of the device and its utilization indetail what is desired to be claimed is all embodiments and equivalentsnot departing from the scope of the appended claims.

1. A veterinary obstetrical instrument comprising:

a. an elongated body member having a rear portion and a forward member,said body portion having various components of the instrument securedthereto,

b. a butt plate pivotally secured to the forward portion of said bodymember, said butt plate constructed and arranged to contact an animal,

0. a ratchet mounting frame secured to the rear portion of said bodymember,

d. a first ratchet reel mounted for independent rotation in said ratchetframe,

e. a second ratchet reel mounted for independent rotation in saidratchet frame,

f. a first means for selectively rotating and securing in position thefirst ratchet reel,

g. a second means for selectively rotating and securing in position thesecond ratchet reel,

h. a first cable secured to and wound on the first said ratchet reel,

i. a second cable secured to and wound on the second said ratchet reel,

j. a head-securing means secured to the first said cable said meansadapted to encircle and grasp the head of a fetal animal, and

k. a leg-securing means secured to the second cable said legsecuringmeans adapted to encircle and grasp the leg or legs of a fetal animal.

2. The invention of claim 1 also comprising a ground support memberattached to said body member to support said body above ground level.

3. The invention of claim 1 also comprising a positioning handle securedto the rear portion of said body.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said butt plate is secured to theforward portion of said body portion by means of:

a. a pin, and

b. socket catch securely pivotally engaging said body and said buttplate.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the body portion comprises: I

a. an inner shaft, I

b. an outer shaft telescopingly engaging said inner shaft, and

c. a spring latch selectively securing said inner shaft and said outershaft in locking engagement.

6. The invention of claim 5 also comprising:

a. a release shaft projecting internally of said body,

b. a release knob mounted on said release shaft adjacent said rearportion of said body, and

c. said spring latch constructed and arranged to be released responsiveto pressure on said release knob.

7. The invention of claim 1 also comprising cable hooks securelyattached to said cables.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said head-securing means and saidleg-securing means comprises:

a. a noose adapted to secure said cable to the head of a fetal animal,and

b. a leg chain adapted to secure said cable to a leg of a fetal animal.

1. A veterinary obstetrical instrument comprising: a. an elongated bodymember having a rear portion and a forward member, said body portionhaving various components of the instrument secured thereto, b. a buttplate pivotally secured to the forward portion of said body member, saidbutt plate constructed and arranged to contact an animal, c. a ratchetmounting frame secured to the rear portion of said body member, d. afirst ratchet reel mounted for independent rotation in said ratchetframe, e. a second ratchet reel mounted for independent rotation in saidratchet frame, f. a first means for selectively rotating and securing inposition the first ratchet reel, g. a second means for selectivelyrotating and securing in position the second ratchet reel, h. a firstcable secured to and wound on the first said ratchet reel, i. a secondcable secured to and wound on the second said ratchet reel, j. ahead-securing means secured to the first said cable said means adaptedto encircle and grasp the head of a fetal animal, and k. a leg-securingmeans secured to the second cable said legsecuring means adapted toencircle and grasp the leg or legs of a fetal animal.
 2. The inventionof claim 1 also comprising a ground support member attached to said bodymember to support said body above ground level.
 3. The invention ofclaim 1 also comprising a positioning handle secured to the rear portionof said body.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said butt plate issecured to the forward portion of said body portion by means of: a. apin, and b. socket catch securely pivotally engaging said body and saIdbutt plate.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the body portioncomprises: a. an inner shaft, b. an outer shaft telescopingly engagingsaid inner shaft, and c. a spring latch selectively securing said innershaft and said outer shaft in locking engagement.
 6. The invention ofclaim 5 also comprising: a. a release shaft projecting internally ofsaid body, b. a release knob mounted on said release shaft adjacent saidrear portion of said body, and c. said spring latch constructed andarranged to be released responsive to pressure on said release knob. 7.The invention of claim 1 also comprising cable hooks securely attachedto said cables.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said head-securingmeans and said leg-securing means comprises: a. a noose adapted tosecure said cable to the head of a fetal animal, and b. a leg chainadapted to secure said cable to a leg of a fetal animal.